you were lying in bed with chris, the room quiet and dim. after talking about random things and cuddling for a while, you both decided to sleep around 2 a.m. his arm was draped over your waist, his steady breaths calming you as you drifted off.

a few hours later, around 4 a.m., you woke up unexpectedly. everything was still, but something felt off. you shifted a little, adjusting the blanket, when you noticed chris. he wasn’t fully lying down anymore; his head was slightly raised, and he was making quiet, strained whimpers. it was like he was trying to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out.

then, all of a sudden, he jolted up slightly, his body rigid and tense. his eyes darted around the room, wide with panic. it hit you immediately—he’d had sleep paralysis.

“chris?” you whispered, sitting up and reaching out to him. he blinked a few times, his breath coming fast and uneven.

“i… i’m awake now, right?” he asked shakily, his voice barely above a whisper